Lennart Birger Wilander
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 28 Mar 1889 |
| Place of Birth | Vaasa, Finland |
| Death | 6 Apr 1966 |
| Place of Death | Mandurah, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 26 years, 10 months |
| Description |
5'4½" (1.m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | Timber worker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Audis Wilander |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 22545 |
| Date of Enlistment | 26 Jan 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 23rd Howitzer Brigade, 1st Reinforcements, transferred to 3rd Division Ammunition Column. |
| Date of Embarkation | 20 May 1916 ‒ 18 Jul 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic |
| Date of Return | 14 Jan 1919 ‒ 18 Feb 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS City of York |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong Honour Roll Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Entered camp on 26 Jan 1916 and on 1 Feb 1916 he was allocated to Artillery reinforcements. This meant travel to Melbourne to undertake training, and there o 1 May 1916 he was transferred to the 1st reinforcement draft for the 23rd Howitzer Brigade.
Five days after boarding the Medic he was admitted to the ships hospital (25 May to 6 Jun 1916) with VD.
On arrival in England he undertook further specialist training at Lark Hill, and on 29 Aug 1916 he was taken on strength by the 3rd Division Ammunition Column. A month later Lennart was appointed as a Driver.
On 24 Nov 1916 Lennart proceeded overseas to France where he spent several short periods in hospital in 1917 (10-14 Feb 1917 with 11th Field Ambulance, & 12 -31 Dec 1917 with both 10th Field Ambulance and 11th Australian Field Ambulance).
On 20 Jan 1918 Lennart was sent to England on leave, returning to his unit on 4 Feb 1918, but five days later he was again in hospital with Venereal Disease, this time from 9 Feb until 8 May 1918 - total period of 89 days ineffective service. On 6 Jun 1918 he rejoined his unit in the field before on 19 Aug 1918 needing medical assistance. Seen by the 15th Field Ambulance he was transferred to the 37th Casualty Clearing Station next day before being placed on Ambulance Train No 16 which carried him to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen. In quick rotation he was seen by the 2nd Canadian Hospital and then the 5th General Hospital before being invalided to England aboard HMHS Panama on 30 Aug 1918 where he entered the Winchester Military Hospital. Treated for Scabies and Impetigo (School sores).
Given the state of the war, he was sent home early, and discharged by 5th Military District on 3 Apr 1919.
Post War
In 1924 Leonard (Lennart) married Laura May Lane. Laura died on 15 Jan 1981 at Mandurah.
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 No 2 Mill Dwellingup, mill hand; 1925 - 1931 Mornington Mill, mill hand; 1936 - 1954 back to No 2 Mill, Dwellignup; 1958 at 78 Tuckey street, Mandurah, retired.
Lennart obtained work as a dockerman, and as a No1 benchman at the Banksiadale Mill with WAGR from 14 May 1934 until 1 May 1943. WAGR records show the work was casual, but it was unbroken.
During WW2 Lennart served in the 12th (Jarrah) VDC Battalion from 30 Apr 1942 with Regimental No. W84868.
Notes